Published: Thursday, November 18, 2010 10:06 AM CST
When a wrestling coach returns good, hard-nosed kids who have tasted success in the past and want more, his program will achieve new heights – quicker and loftier.

MCHS Wrestling Head Coach, Chris Lindsay, returns a whole slew of battle-tested guys for the 2010-11 season, and the most exciting thing for Lindsay, he now has the ability to run a completely independent JV program – more specialized with more learning going on.

“This allows us to really accelerate our Varsity practice, so we do not have to slowdown and show everything again,” Lindsay said. “We are going live and the up-tempo, and the battles in the corners are just really, really good. It reduces practice time and keeps the kids’ minds a little fresher and our intensity level grows.”

Lindsay considers Mascoutah to be a favorite to win the Mississippi Valley Conference crown this season.

“I would think so. People think Triad with the fourth-place finish last year (at the 2A State Tournament) and Bethalto with three tough kids returning to be the favorites. And everybody is looking past us. I don’t think people realize that we have seven sectional qualifiers returning. I hope they don’t look for us.”

Mascoutah possesses some young, decent, but still relatively inexperienced grapplers from 103 pounds to 119. But at 130, 135, and 140 (Brandon Mauer, Lavion Mayes, and William Burns, respectively) Mauer has wrestled for six years and should have an improved senior season, and Mayes, a junior, and Burns, a senior, made it to State last season, both failing to place by just one match

“We don’t go two weight classes in a row where people can bump on us,” said Lindsay. “Last year, they could bump people around. I just don’t see where they could do that on us this time.

“Last year, we had Mayes, Burns, Goda, Speicher, and Graf, winning at least in the high-20s, so you figure we return almost 200 wins from this group. Right now, we fill all the weight classes, and it’s all with quality kids. This team is probably as good as the one that won conference and regionals a few years back.”

And Lindsay rates the team’s leadership as exceptional – especially in the upper weights, which will have a “calming effect” on the lighter athletes.

“We don’t ask these guys to preach something they do not believe in. They are leading by example. Wrestling is hard work, and these kids are quality kids.”

Mascoutah’s schedule has gotten tougher and brings clarity to the postseason picture. The Indians added Cahokia – a perennial postseason team – and this match will provide the comparison information necessary for more accurate regional and sectional seeding. Vandalia – a potent Class A power – Belleville East, and Roxana, which possesses quality athletes in the same weight class as Mascoutah, will beef up the dual schedule

But the biggest additions are the 24-team Lincoln Tournament over Christmas vacation and the Quincy Tournament, which allows each wrestler at least five matches.

The Indians, coached by Lindsay, Mike Mueth, and Shane Bates open at home Tuesday against Mt. Olive and Althoff, and the following Tuesday Mascoutah hosts Mt. Vernon and Cahokia.

“If we don’t win conference and regionals this year, we have not met our goals. That’s what we talk about when we are tired. It’s what we are shooting for. We practice to medal at the state tournament. That’s where our focus lies.”

Lindsay just threw down the gauntlet to his team and opponents. It should be a wildly, exciting season.

In preseason rankings, the 2010 Mascoutah Wrestling team might be the Rodney Dangerfield of Southern Illinois’ grappling.

But not getting much respect doesn’t faze Coach Chris Lindsay one bit. He knows his squad contains some solid veterans.

And if the Indians continue to pile up solid victories like last Tuesday’s mauling of Mt. Olive and Althoff, 61-11 and 58-16, respectively, the opposition will begin to figure it out.

“I like the fact that we are somewhat under the radar,” Lindsay said. “Every weight class we enter, somebody has an opportunity to be successful or at least wrestle six minutes. I still think it remains to be seen how good we are.

“Our tempo in practice, our energy, and our ability to condition is just much, much better this season.”

Against Mt. Olive Lavion Mayes (140 pounder and State qualifier as a sophomore last season) wowed the home crowd by pinning C.J. Six in just 24 seconds. Fellow state competitor, Will Burns (145 pound senior) got cradled early but rallied for a nifty 14-8 decision over Eric Viller.

Mike Graf, who weighed in at 182 pounds, bumped up to 215 to take on rugged Josh Clevenger and proceeded to take down Clevenger eight times in a 17-6 major decision.

“They way we match up,” added Lindsay. “And our ability to bump kids like Mike Graf to 215 to beat their best kid is good for us.”

In the turnaround match of the evening, Sean O’Brien – almost pinned in the first period – out-conditioned Johnny Cox in the 285-pound class, registering a fall at 3:40.

At 103 Kelton McDonell won on forfeit; Nick Hausmann (125) pinned Lee Curtis at 1:41; Josh Goda (130) went to the second period before pinning Tyler Gilleland at 2:53, and Brandon Mauer (135) tallied a 5-1 decision over Chrishan Pratt.

Well, it will not take long after all to find out if Mascoutah can deliver the goods. The Indians were scheduled to battle Cahokia (ranked fifth in Class A) and Mt. Vernon Tuesday night at Mascoutah. We’ll see if the Rodney Dangerfield label still applies.

Shane Bates and Reggie Baker seek more middle school-age wrestlers to go along with the 25-plus younger ones already practicing 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at Mascoutah High School.

The goal: These two veterans, along with Rich Montgomery, want to build a comprehensive wrestling youth program from the bottom up to bolster the Mascoutah High School team and to showcase local talent.

“We are trying to build a program and not worry about wins and losses; we are just trying to strengthen Mascoutah wrestling, so we need the sixth through eighth graders” Bates said. “A lot of our kids were wrestling at O’Fallon, and now they are wrestling in Mascoutah.

“You can see the growth at Mascoutah High School, so this is a perfect time to take advantage of it with the younger kids. At all the levels we will have a total of 90 kids wrestling. As long as we stay in there and work at it, we’ll be fine.”

Besides two practices a week, Bates and Baker can facilitate the motivated athlete’s desire to wrestle local weekend tournaments in towns such as Granite City, and Edwardsville etc. In February, the Illinois Kid Wrestling Federation state series (the largest in the U.S.) commences, and Mascoutah could field a respectable contingent. Bates and Baker also plan a summer workout session.

Once again, Bates and Baker concentrate on teaching the fundamentals within the context of offensive and defensive strategy and all youth age groups are welcome.

“Every wrestler in this program will go into high school knowing how to execute the basic moves necessary to be successful.”

Anyone interested in the cost and specifics of the program should contact Bates and/or Baker 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays or Thursdays at the Mascoutah High wrestling room.